EFF Councillor, Paballo Poone-Rankholo, tells OFM News the Mangaung Council and the municipality have turned into circuses in which people use their positions of influence to fight factional battles. Poone-Rankholo echoes the sentiments of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) that the council’s decision can only be overturned by council or a court, not via “an agreement” between the parties made outside the court proceedings. Poone-Rankholo says Mea was not going to lose anything by going on suspension.

“The council has been very fair to say that the city manager is on precautionary suspension meaning that he is still entitled to his benefits and pay, pending an investigation of maladministration and charges instituted against him. It is very unlawful for the administration to do so if it is the case. We as the EFF will look into it,” reveals Poone-Rankholo. She further cautions that those that were involved in the reversal of the decision need to be charged.

Last week, as already implied, the Mangaung Council took a decision to place Mea on suspension. Mea then approached the Bloemfontein High Court to try and reverse the decision. But an agreement between the applicant – Mea - and the respondents – the metro’s administration – was reached before the court sitting.

OFM News has already reported that the agreement enables Mea to submit reasons in writing to council, outlining why he should not be suspended. Should he make these submissions, the council has ten days to decide about it. If the council has not decided about his suspension by the time Mea returns from leave, he will return to his position of municipal manager.

The DA’s, Hardie Viviers, said previously that Mea’s suspension by the council was to protect witnesses from any intimidation or interference with the investigation into his alleged misconduct and maladministration.

The organisers of the Mangaung Community Concern had initially called for the dissolution of the council due to “infighting”.

OFM News